October 4,Twenty-Seventh Sunday

May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.--Psalm 128:see 5

Mass readings: Genesis 2:18-24 / Hebrews 2:9-11 / Mark 10:2-16 or 10:2-12

Your 'Little While'

One phrase I can recall from high school Latin -- and can still readily translate -- is tempus fugit: time flies. St. Paul doesn't put it exactly that way in today's second reading. He writes that ''for a little while'' Jesus was ''made lower than the angels.'' For a little while, before His death and resurrection, He lived on earth the same way you and I do. Perhaps that means that, even for Jesus, the years seemed to pass too quickly.

We all get there eventually. ''How is it possible that I'm turning . . . .'' Fifty. Seventy. Ninety. No matter the number, we're each here only ''for a little while.'' Jesus asks us to use that time wisely. To prepare for what comes next: ''forever.''

Prayer: Lord, in a little while I'll see You face to face. Help me remember that and live my life accordingly.